As we broke the news on Twitter at 9:50 a.m., the Canadiens fired head coach Jacques Martin this morning, replacing him through the end of this season with assistant coach Randy Cunneyworth.

Players were informed by GM Pierre Gauthier upon arriving at morning skate at the Bell Centre. Gauthier and Cunneyworth will speak to the media at the Bell at noon ET.

Assistant GM Larry Carrière will become an assistant coach, also through the end of the year.

•Martin notes: Became the Canadiens head coach on June 1, 2009… Was nominated for the Jack Adams Award four times, winning it in 1998-99… Ranks 7th in league history with 1,294 games as a head coach and 9th for wins (613)… Coached his 1,200th NHL game on Nov. 20 against the Toronto Maple Leafs… Recorded his 600th NHL career win on April 9 against the Maple Leafs at Toronto… Has a career winning-record of 613-481-119-81 (.551)… Displays a 22-34-6 (.403) career record as head coach against the Devils.

828 Comments

Jacque Martin was the best coach for this team as well as all the coaches before him that coached the habs. The problem is with multi million dollar contact players who have lost the passion to play and who want to play it safe and don’t sweat or push for the extra inch. In the nect CBA I would prefer to change the way contract agreements are written. You perform you get paid you don’t perform we slice your salary or something to that effect. We the fans pay too much money for several clowns who want to to take advantage of us and the game it makes me and many others sick to our stomach. What if the average working person delivers only half their duty day in and day out what excuse would you tell your boss that you’ve lost your touch or confidence as they put it? Cammalleri has done shit this season and he’s always being excused but I wonder why the media is scared to address it plainly instead they beat around the bush, I woder why?

one gone one to go all habs fans boycott molsons products until gauthier is dismiised also there are a con tigency of habd fans doing that in western canada and the movement is grwoing send a message to molsons that what is happening now to the habs is totally unacceptable

I think Martin got the most out of his roster for the most part, especially in the playoffs. In 2010, no one expected the Habs to beat Washington or Pittsburgh, and on paper, neither series was a contest. As great as Halak played, that playoff run was a total team effort, highlighted by abundantly brave shot-blocking, penalty killing and backchecking. The 2011 playoffs may have ended in a first-round loss, but they lost to the best team in the NHL, the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, and in retrospect, gave Boston its toughest test of the postseason. I think Martin exhausted and probably exceeded his roster’s potential in both playoff seasons behind the Habs’ bench. Remember that in both of these playoff years, they had to play mostly without Andrei Markov, who is widely considered the Habs’ best non-goaltending player.

This year, the Habs have not been good thus far. They have a fairly good excuse in injuries. They lead the league in man-games lost to injury, averaging a whopping FIVE missing starters per game. One could look to Pittsburgh (who amazingly battled for first place while Crosby, Malkin and Staal missed a significant number of games) to say that injuries should be no excuse, but let’s be fair here – missing five starters per game should not conduct much success for any team in any sport.

That all said, I am not surprised or, as a Habs fan, saddened to see Martin go. He gave way too much ice time to veterans that weren’t pulling their weight (such as Scott Gomez) at the expense of younger players that were contributing above their mandate (like David Desharnais, although more recently Martin saw the light and started giving this kid the time he deserves). Most frustrating, the Habs have blown way too many leads this year, especially in the third period. Protecting a lead is supposed to be Martin’s bread-and-butter. How often do you hear analysts tout Martin’s “get a lead and shut it down” system that’s designed to protect late-game leads with staunch austerity? If the team can’t protect a late-game lead, there’s really nothing left in Jacques Martin’s “system” to be desired. It’s like a football team employing Mike Martz but having trouble scoring: what’s the point of tolerating the coach’s flaws if he’s not even delivering on his purported strengths?

I think Martin has a fatal strategic flaw: he often refuses to play in the opponent’s zone. He barely runs a forecheck (even while trailing!) and usually changes lines once his team gains the zone. This strategy is not conducive to post-lockout NHL success, especially with the type of roster he had in Montreal. A team with a lot of big, strong forwards can clog the neutral zone and trap a trailing opponent into digging its own grave, but the Habs are famously populated by small, skill-focused forwards that can’t consistently make such tactics work.

Again, it seemed that Martin did a very good job in both playoff seasons behind the Habs’ bench, but you have to actually get your team to the playoffs before that becomes relevant. And as much as it seemed he exhausted (or exceeded) the potential of his roster, we really haven’t seen anyone else coach this team. Bob Gainey blew up the team in the 2009 offseason and Martin has been the only head coach of this core of players. Perhaps – and I’m being very optimistic here – their potential is greater than we think. We’ll find out.

Just reading thru the posts and the ROY name came up and also saw the reference to the french caller (s) on TSN990.

Man oh Man! Is Randy in a tough tough position. You know many if not the majority in the french press would be calling for Roy, or at least bringing hi sname up, regardless of what Randy does.

Firing Martin was a good move. But now another reality of life in habsland rears its ugly head with Cunneyworth’s appointment.

Dont know what RC can do except maybe WIN.. and maybe that wont be good enough. But good luck RC. Whatever you do face the French thing head-on. I hope PG is more in the forefront responding to the inevitable crap.

One thing I really liked re the guy now in Calgary… heez I am getting senile.. name on top of tongue and cant recall it. He was traded here from Calgary and let go as UFA.

He was one of the only French guys who STOOD UP and told everyone to screw off wen they were hammering Koivu. Geez his name escapes me. Wish we had a french ‘superstar’ on te team who could do same in the coming weeks.

One thing people need to understand about Randy Cunneyworth is that he loves this game so very very much. If he could he’d strap on the skates, grab a stick, and join in to help the team win, he would. He won’t throw water bottles or yell at reporters. He’ll be fair to his players. He didn’t survive a 20 year NHL career by floating around. He knows what goes on out there and what players are going through. And he did just as much for the Bulldogs as Guy Boucher with less to work with. While this isn’t the AHL, those who came up from the farm really appreciate what he’s done for them and what they’ve learned from him.

Well well well I don’t login in for 1 day and man o man look at all the drama. Maybe I should stay away for another day and maybe Molson with ax PG too. And then the winds of change will fully start? Oh and as much as I respect BG as a person and player he should be checking out of the Bell Center with PG as well. This way the change will be all around.

I want a job where you underachieve for years, quit, still have an office, still get paid and get tickets to games and even travel with the team. What a life.
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‎12th in NHL Jaroslav Halak 2.27 GAA
17th Carey Price 2.38 GAA
“Trading Jaroslav Halak was the brain dead decision of all time.” Red Fisher

The real coach for next year will want to bring ib his own assistant coach so let’s not get to far ahead of ourselves then & only then this site will light up like Christmas tree OH WHAT FUN !!!!!!!! Prove to us to-nite Habs that you were haviing a problem with Martin……….even I had trouble with his decsions………..

I am glad that Martin has gone I could not understand some of his moves [CRAZY] a player scores in a game then sent down to Hamilton, another Hamilton player scores a goal plays 4 min. sits the rest go figure…………I think that he had lost the respect of the players. I wish Randy the best of luck also I don’t care what language you speak just win the games…………some of the comments on 990 radio from the French people are atrocious, one of them said that because of an English coach we have sold the French people down the river GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!! this guy is not a true Hab fan . All we want is the team to win……………..maybe we could get a German coach then nobody would understand GO MY HABS GO!!!!!!! I BELIEVE

I’m bilingual and born in Montreal. Why can’t you get that what matters most is WINNING, not the language of the coach? RDS uses subtitles all the time.
What’s the problem with an English-speaking coach?
If it’s so bad, why not insist the whole roster speak French too?
Worldwide, I’d also assume the Habs have more Anglo fans than Franco.

Go Habs Go!!

“Fans are great, but the quickest way to start losing is to listen to them.” – Sam Pollock

you know what, I doubt that the largest hab fan base is French. Habs have the largest fan base of any hockey team in the World, and definitely the largest in Canada. Quebec isn’t the centre of the world.

I call BS on that, Canadiens fans are all over North America, even in Europe. Why can’t separatists understand English Quebeckers past and present as well as other non Pur Laine fans love the team as much as they do? Ask Scotty Bowman, Frank Selke, Toe Blake and Sam Pollack and stick the Bill 101 and Jean Baptiste crap you know where.

Finally! Maybe Gauthier was giving Martin enough rope to hang himself with. The numerous too many men penalties was just one example of the sloppy play over the past few years. If anglo coaches are now in play, how about Larry Robinson? Anyone have any interesting ideas on who the next permanent coach might be? Also, can anyone tell me how to re-add my avatar? I can’t find an option in the profile to do it. Thanks, and happy holidays!

Robinson won the Stanley Cup in NJ. He became disaffected when his brother died and did some soul searching. For 18 months he phoned Bob Gainey, offering his services as an assistant coach and Gainey would not even return his calls. Larry wanted back. It’s Gainey that felt pressure, not Robinson. Bring Larry home.

JM is a classy coach and even if he was stubborn and made some bad decisions, he was still a good coach and wanted all the best for the Habs. If the fans give a standing ovation or something stupid like that, that would be the most classless gesture ever by the fans.

I am not going to jump up and down because JM got fired.however I still think he is a good coach…but not for this team,
which leads me to the fact that they should either think about getting a coach that can adapt to the players they have and use them…or if the coach has a system then get him the players to can follow that ststem

Who gets JM’s notebooks? Are they his, or his employer’s? Can he argue “work product” to a judge?

Interesting.

Anyway, I have only ever seen one page of one, but this is what it said.

10/13/2010

…ask PG to show how to make those little watercress and cucumber sandwiches – where does he get that extra thin white bread? I’ll probably have to go to Westmount. What a pain…

… p/up some of that Greek yogurt PG likes on Avenue Parc, my stomach has been bothering me a little. I didn’t realize hockey was so stressful. Back in Ottawa no one cared when we lost to the Leafs, what? 17 times in a row.

…boy I don’t want to play those mean Boston guys in the playoffs. But the ref will give them tons of penalties and we’ll be fine.

…had to explain AGAIN why I think it’s ok for Price to play 82 games straight. He’s a kid, he can handle it.

Trust me the team will do better. It doesn’t matter who the coach is for now, as long it isn’t Martin or a Martin clone. The game has passed him by.

Remember when Perry Pearn was fired and the Habs pulled off 4 wins in a row. We were all saying, wow, look at what happens when you roll 4 lines. Well, that was when Cunneyworth and Ladouceur has started taking control.

Martin didn’t like that and he came back to the forefront and they started winning 1 losing 2, etc, and sitting on 2 goal leads and waiting for the other team to tie the game.

It is now being said Cunneyworth has been a great coaching prospect in the eyes of many people in the league. He is already part of our system. Why assume that he will be gone? I am thinking maybe they have named him interim to play it safe but I can see him sticking. Seems to have that charismatic presence everyone has been begging for and has a ton of experience. The French may be the only issue, and maybe an intensive summer of learning could make him functional. Maybe he was the down-the-road solution all along and is part of the reason they let Kirk go so easily.

PG should have at least asked Muller to coach in Hamilton in place of Cunneyworth, rather than dispose of him with little regard. PG should be next in line for disposal.

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

I don’t have any links off-hand, but it was reported by several journalists.

Muller was offered the head coaching position in Hamilton last summer, but he decided to spend 1 more year as an assistant in Montreal, hoping he could find a head coaching job in the NHL the year after that.

1. GM’s get to pick their own coach, for better or for worse. You can’t plant the next in line in Hamilton without sending a very negative message and undermining the coach you already have.

2. Muller (and Boucher) for that matter, are both coaching in the NHL, which is better for them and maybe in the long run for us.

Was PG wrong to not fire Martin sooner and bring in Muller? Sure. But by betting on Martin, he at least gave Muller his freedom to make a move and get head coaching experience.

I would have fired Martin over the summer, or at least when we had that 5 day gap between games, but that’s just me. By the time PG did his best impersonation of Macbeth, both Muller and Boucher were off the market. C’est la vie. Maybe the hockey gods are watching over us and Cunneyworth will be great.

I recently read a bio about the guy who is head of McDonalds hamburger chain. He was a top exec, but on no one’s radar for succession, always described as a “great number 2″. Then his boss died, and the replacement boss died a year later (not from the food, one hopes) but my point is the guy no one wanted had the job land in his lap and according to the business press has done an excellent job.

My point is the hockey gods may be watching out for us after all… giving Kaberle new legs, bringing MaxPax back healthy… those are not nothing.

No ill will to JM, but “le system” had to go. Bring on “le firewagon”.

I’m sorry, I’m not following. WHO was the next in line after Boucher in Hamilton? And is the HC job in Hamilton a promotion or demotion compared to an assistant in the biggies?

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

Honestly, I wish people would give up on the Patrick Roy- for- coach thing. The guy is unproven, has an ego the size of the national debt, ( a quality that might make for a good player, but seldom works for a coach) and has a long history of anger-management issues. He’s just not the right guy for the job. For now, let’s just give Randy Cunneyworth a try, and worry about the next guy if and when it becomes necessary.

I agree I will wait to see what Randy does. One way or another it has to be better than Martin.

I say Roy because he is french, has spunk and emotion. Unproven? He won a cup with his team, has solid knowledge of the game from a defensive point of view. Roy is also French and someone Montrealers love. Muller was a good choice too but as we all know he’s English.

Why do you think he’d be so bad? Have you seen his record as a coach? It’s very good. He’s a proven winner and a great communicator…and he preaches offense first. Of course nobody knows if he’d do well as an NHL coach, but I like what I read in this article:

While Patrick Roy was a great player, he is of dubious leadership material outside of being a hockey player. His two sons, for example, have both been involved in serious controversies in the QMJHL. One son beat the living hell out an opponent who had surrendered before Roy’s son even threw the first punch. From where did Roy’s son get that “attitude?” His father, no? The last thing this organization needs is a hothead who can’t think straight enough in the passion of a game to rein in his own son.

Really curious to see what the line-ups, TOI look like in the next couple..

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

He’s just paying lip service so as not to make JM appear completely inept. The changes will come..gradually.

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

The best move Gauthier’s made since he’s been here is shutting up that french reporter who made the comment about the coach not being able to speak french for the first time in 30 years.
« Des langues, ça s’apprend! »

…”We have to get back to doing things the Players are capable of…” -Randy Cunneyworth

…well, this ol’ goat woke-up this mornin’ in a Joe Cocker kind ‘o mood
…”I think it’s going to rain broken windows and empty hallways
A pale dead-moon in the sky streaked with grey
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today

Lonely, lonely
Tin can at My feet
Think I’ll kind of kick it down the street
That’s the way to treat a friend

Bright before Me the signs implore Me
To help the needy and show Them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today

today”

…poor ol’ Jacques, He transitioned Us from the inept-Carbonneau and Kovalev era to a relatively disciplined and organized Team of speed and character …but, unfortunately, a tad too much organized that left little room for individual skills to shine
…and, THAT is WHAT a Montreal Canadiens’ Fan cries’ fer …We wanna be bedazzled with FLAIR
…dat was somethin’ ol’ Jacques did not have

…BUT ??? Randy Cunnyworth ??? …cripes We are certainly in the generation of Our Habs missin’ the knack of grabbing the Golden Ring when the opportunity arises
…We must laugh if not cry
…wouldn’t a Guy Boucher or a Kirk Muller feed Our longings this morn a wee bit more enthusiastically ?

I wonder if this will have any effect on our league-leading skill in taking TMMOTI bench minors.

I have no idea what to expect tonight. No notepad, Marty F. playing at the Bell, Chris F. Lee. Lots of possibilities. One thing that’s probably a safe bet: At least one Montreal goal will be vigorously waved off.

I dunno what Molson said, but this is probably what PG heard…
“Soy soy soy, Mr Gauthier. We must turnip the offense on this team as it is hurting our marketing. This hockey game stuff is affecting the brand. Lettuce start winning, or squash the rumours surrounding this team. I have deep roots in hockey, and it’s time my investment bore fruit.”
“Yes sir.”
“Alfalfa a sad story once, but not twice. Fire the coach. The players show no desire. It’s time we got randy.”

This is what i feel:
Although Martin’s style of playing defensive (boring at times) hockey and constantly sitting on 1-2 goal leads after the first/second period, it sure did benefit something/someone…and that’s the play of Price.
Anyone who’s watched the habs the past couple of years knows that the system requires the goaltender to be the BEST player on the team, and thats exactly what Price is. Since he got so much rubber thrown at him during games where we held onto a lead and have 10-20 shots against in a period, it made Price better and better to what he is today, one of the best young goaltenders in the league now.
Just trying to see some positives, but hopefully Cunneyworth can right this troubled ship!

There seems to be a dynamic in Quebec that I do not understand. Maybe someone can shed some light on it for me. Why is it that for the most part Francophone players are adored and can do no wrong but Francophone coaches and GM’s can be so fiercely hated?

The “hate” that past Francophone players received during their slumps were no slouch neither: Lafleur and Lemaire were practically shipped off, Richer was rumored to be gay, Theodore got staked out in front of his house, the over expectation of Gui!, the booing of Brisebois, the rumor that Darche might be JM’s Rat…etc

Roy was an arrogant SOB that got run out of town by the fans and media and now people want him back? Why? He doesn’t play goal anymore and he’s never coached in the NHL either. I wouldn’t want to see him anywhere near the Habs.

I want to hear Bryan Murray say “Certainly, I’m stunned and surprised the Senators organization was able to win the sweepstakes and secure the services of such a super-special scoring centre as Kyle Turris.”

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“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12

French speaking Habs fans, I hope none of you are going to be bitter over the fact that their is no longer a French speaking coach behind the bench. It has not been a difference make in quite some time so lets just let RC play it out with Les Boys. On a different note, for those of you who do not know RC as a coach, get ready for alot of yelling at the Refs! Finally!

I think the language issue is being overblown – primarily by the English-speaking media as well as a few members of the Quebec media. If a coach can bring the cup to Montreal very few fans will care about his ability (or inability) to speak French.

Cunnyworth will have his players do what they are capable of doing. And not put players into rolls that does not fit their game or skill set.!! He will have players together that complement each other, and not force players into situations that they can not excel.

Not saying that players like Gomez will change the world, but I am willing to bet he uses him for more value that Martin did.

WOW!!, been out at my daughters basketball games all day, come home, hop on HIO and JMs gone!!! I’m one who felt he needed to go, but I never thought I’d see it happen this season, I thought for sure PG was going to ride out the year with him. Cunneyworth?, how is french media doing, are they rioting? It’s weird though, I wanted him gone, but I do feel for JM though, as I do feel the players aren’t completely innocent when a coach gets canned.

Just re-read Dryden’s piece on head injuries. Reminds me what an intelligent, articulate communicator he is. He would be an ideal candidate to lead the Habs – President/GM. He has a tremendous history as a Canadien and would return a missing element of class.

I have always felt Dryden was a better philosopher than actual leader but in the case of his tenure with the Leafs, it was always a sham position. Anything he wanted to implement was blocked by Peddie. In fact, I always wondered why they hired Dryden or who actually approved the hiring.

And then it will be someone else, then someone else, then someone else, etc, etc. … See a pattern? Unfortunately the pattern doesn’t include a Stanley Cup. No wonder. It’s hard to be motivated to win or care to play in Montreal when there is ALWAYS negativity around the team.

Gauthier: “Ah non, Mr Molson, c’est ok. As you can tell by the transparent gleam to my skin, I sleep seulement one hour an evening, at most.”

M: “Right, right. Anyway, this losing has got to stop. I want you to get down to the rink and fire old Jacques asap. Then hire Muller. We shouldn’t have let him go, and the boys are dying to have him back.”

G: “Ah, oui, of course, Mr Molson. I will dispose of Jacques, as you wish. Mais… Kirk Muller, you mean?”

M: “That’s right. Won a Stanley Cup with us, beloved by all, articulate, intelligent, power play genius. You know who I’m talking about. I don’t care if he doesn’t speak French, last time I checked only a handful of the goddamn players do.”

I am still laughing after spending several minutes trying to figure out who is pictured in your avatar. At first I thought it was Gene Simmons. Now I realize it’s Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. (I am but a caveman. Your recent coaching changes frighten and confuse me). Man I miss Phil Hartman.

That’s a general manager’s decision, not the coach’s. The coach uses what the GM makes available to him, they don’t “bring in” new players. We may see Emelin used with greater frequency to add extra oomph on the back-end, but that is the extent of the coach’s powers.

That’s why I made the post as everyone was blaming JM for the lack of toughness and you are right on that the GM does the signing of players not the coach. The coach however does dictate who plays so we will never know the above. Purchased at the Butcher. Great line.

Sports are a psychological battle too. Leblanc gets his first goal to a huge ovation in the Bell Center. Just imagine the adrenalin he would have had flowing. Only JM would have benched a person after that. Only JM. And that was not even an uncharacteristic move of his.
Montreal’s greatest 24 moments were Stanley Cups. The 25th greatest was today.

I admit I’m stunned by this move, or perhaps by its timing. I really thought the team would stick with Jacques Martin for the season and make a change, if at all, in the off-season.

I’ve been critical of Jacques Martin, but I never thought he was the main problem. He’s had the team playing very well defensively despite the inexperience on the blueline, and our penalty kill is one of the best in the League. The problem, as has been the case for several years, is offence. Our overpaid veterans are not producing as expected, which is the main reason we find it so hard to hold onto a lead. I also never thought JM’s so-called system was the problem, since it doesn’t seem to differ much from most of the other systems used in the NHL. The reality is that we simply don’t have enough talent and we’ve been missing our best player for most of JM’s tenure here. The high-calibre goaltending we’ve gotten from Price and Halak has covered up a multitude of weaknesses. I honestly think Jacques Martin got about as much as could be gotten out of a roster with only moderate talent.

Gainey and Gauthier together have to bear a lot of responsibility for the team’s mediocrity. Gainey made some good moves and improved the team to the point where we make the playoffs more often than not. But it took years. And he took on the Gomez contract, thus tying his own hands and those of his successor.

Gauthier has also made some good moves, although his failure to put together an effective fourth line over the summer was a colossal mistake. Also on the negative side, I would point to the one-year contract offered to Josh Gorges, which could potentially lead to our losing him, and the failure to get anything at all in return for Sergei Kostitsyn and Maxim Lapierre. On the other hand, the Halak trade was a gutsy move, Erik Cole was a great signing, and I continue to think that the Kaberle trade, even if a desperation move, could turn out well.

But we’re not a very good team, and the Randys and Larry Carrière will have an uphill battle. I guess we’ll see how things turn out.

Thanks to Jacques Martin for the excellent work he did in the past couple of seasons, and best of luck with whatever comes next.

This is a good post. I agree this current set of players is not really a very good team. When Price stands on his head, they can beat anyone. When he is not on his game, they invariably lose. In other words, it’s all about the goaltending for the Montreal Canadiens.

The Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri experience is likely going to end the guaranteed contract when the owners and players’ union begin hard negotiations. Those three — a minority on this team in terms of numbers — are like the minority of workers who do nothing to contribute but end up forcing management to punish the good employees by cutting benefits and making work conditions more miserable. To be blunt, those three are as*holes, but they are so wealthy — and guaranteed to get that wealth — they obviously could care less.

One thing I dislike about the Montreal Canadiens is how they coddle their players. Starting with George Gillett, the team provides world-class amenities for its players, and how do half of them return the favour? By thumbing their noses at the organization, their teammates, and ultimately the fans. I was no fan of Jacques Martin, but he is neither responsible for signing Gomez nor for Cammalleri becoming a professional pussy.